smoked plum
{{redirect|Omae|the Japanese surname|Ōmae}}
Smoked plum is the smoked fruit of Asian plums, used in East Asian cuisine and medicine. It is called wūméi ({{lang|zh-Hans|{{linktext|烏梅}}}}) in Mandarin, omae ({{Korean|hangul=오매|hanja=烏梅|labels=no}}) in Korean, ubai ({{lang|ja-Hani|烏梅}}; {{lang|ja-Hrkt|うばい}}) in Japanese, and Ô mai in Vietnamese.
Overview
Smoked plums, matte black to dark brown, with a rugged surface, have a unique flavor with a sour taste.{{Cite web|url=http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000903636|title=omae|website=Doopedia|publisher=Doosan Corporation|language=ko|script-title=ko:오매|access-date=16 June 2017}} The fruit is spherical or oblate, around {{Convert|2-3|cm}} long and {{Convert|1.5-2|cm}} in diameter.{{Cite book|title=Hanyakjae gambyeol dogam|last=Kim|first=Chang-Min|last2=Lee|first2=Young Jong|last3=Kim|first3=In Rak|last4=Sin|first4=Jeon-Hwi|last5=Kim|first5=Yang Il|publisher=Academy Seojeok|year=2015|isbn=9788976164865|pages=304|language=ko|script-title=ko:한약재감별도감|trans-title=Coloured Illustrations for Discrimination of Herbal Medicine|chapter=omae|script-chapter=ko:오매|chapter-url=http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=2398369&cid=58520&categoryId=58522|access-date=16 June 2017|via=Naver}} The surface is wrinkled, with the round stem-end underside. The fruit kernel is hard, olate, yellowish brown, {{Convert|1-1.4|cm}} long, {{Convert|1|cm}} wide, and {{Convert|0.5|cm}} thick, with a dotted surface. The seed is flat obloid and light yellow.
Production
Unripe plums are picked in early summer, smoked, and dried at {{Convert|40|C}}.{{Cite book|title=Hanuihak dae sajeon|publisher=Jungdam Publishing|year=1998|isbn=9788980850297|location=Seoul|language=ko|script-title=ko:한의학대사전|trans-title=The Korean medical dictionary|chapter=omae|script-chapter=ko:오매|access-date=16 June 2017|chapter-url=http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=2340966&cid=58527&categoryId=58527|via=Naver}}
Use
= Cuisine =
In China, smoked plums are used to make suānméitāng, a sour plum drink.{{Cn|date=August 2021}}
In Korea, smoked plums are used to make traditional teas and drinks such as omae-cha (smoked plum tea) and jeho-tang (medicinal summer drink).{{Cn|date=August 2021}}
= Medicine =
Latin (pharmaceutical) name for smoked plums is Mume Fructus.
In Traditional Korean medicine, smoked plums are considered conductant for the liver channel, spleen channel, lung channel, and large intestine channel. It is used to treat ascariasis, vomiting, cough, and diarrhea. It is reported to relieve phlegm, inhibit intestinal motility, and fight bacteria in pharmacologic experiments.
= Dyeing =
In Japan, the extract of smoked plums (ubai) is used as a mordant for the natural red dye derived from safflower (benibana).{{Cite web |url=http://www.satoyamalibrary.org/2017/07/off-beaten-kyoto-landscape-for.html |title=Off-the-beaten Kyoto: landscape for propducing "ubai", carbonized plum fruit, used as a color fixing mordant |access-date=10 August 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726053802/http://www.satoyamalibrary.org/2017/07/off-beaten-kyoto-landscape-for.html |archive-date=26 July 2021 }} {{Cite web |url=https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/discover/yoshioka-dyeing-workshop/ |title=Yoshioka Dyeing Workshop |website=Japan House, London |access-date=10 August 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810174658/https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/discover/yoshioka-dyeing-workshop/ |archive-date=10 August 2022 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:Traditional Korean medicine
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